Look Forward to the Future with Great Excitement

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Mark Shields

We should worship God each day with jubilation and look forward to the future with great excitement. Like looking forward to a celebration such as a marriage ceremony, our future is one to be lived with excitement as we know that God is with us forever.

This attitude of excitement and elation helps us live with abandon and to share with others this great future we have with Jesus our Savior. Here’s a video that emphasizes this attitude in life: Live with Abandon – Newsboys.

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I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. – Psalm 89:1

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Jubilation

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Mark Shields

In Revelation 19:6-10, John uses the roar of rushing water and peals of thunder to describe the sound of jubilation. As a body of believers, let us gather each Sunday with this same expression of joy.

In this vision of John, the wedding of the Lamb has come and the bride has made herself ready for the bridegroom (v. 7). Marriage is often used to describe the relationship of Christians to Christ or Christ to the church. There are aspects of God’s nature portrayed by marriage. In marriage, a couple is united as one to be caring and loving towards each other. Each spouse desires devotion, faithfulness, and total attention to each other. Other aspects of God’s nature in marriage are when there is the feeling of happiness when each spouse contributes to the needs of the other.

John wanted to worship the angel but the angel said he was just a fellow servant and that God was who we should worship. This day with God, let us understand that God is the ONE we should worship and there is much to look forward to. Each day, there are new thoughts and ideas to take note of and share with others as we look forward to the great time of rejoicing as a great multitude in heaven with our Savior forever.

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Week in Review

Posted on August 8, 2014 by Mark Shields

This week, I wrote a post titled Brighter Tomorrows after the study of Revelation 18. The thought for me is how the Bible gives us a set of rules to follow and by following these rules we receive peace of mind and eternal rewards. Not following these rules brings stress, chaos, and destruction.

Revelation 19 starts the part of the vision of John when Christ returns. The emphasis of this study so far is written about in the post Focus on How Wonderful it Will Be which is about meeting Christ; being surrounded by His glory, praising, and worshipping. He has demonstrated power in the past and is in control of our future.

Be sure to stop by throughout next week as the study continues and as I share some thoughts. Until then, have a great weekend my friends!

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Focus on How Wonderful it Will Be

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Mark Shields

The post Focus on Heaven and Rejoice is about praising and worshipping God. He has demonstrated His power and is in control of our future. Many things can get us down in life but the amazing thing is that He has a way of getting our attention in order to give us a lift. It may be walking in the neighborhood remembering great things in the past, it may be looking up at a beautiful sunset or it may be bathing us in the warm sunshine.

As we go through life, things can get messy but we can just imagine the day when we get to heaven. Here is a link to a video to help give a lift this day with God as we think about how wonderful it will be: I Can Only Imagine – Mercy Me.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. – Psalm 16:8

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Focus on Heaven and Rejoice

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Mark Shields

The mood in Revelation 19:1-8 is happy rather than somber in the previous chapter because the attention is now on heaven. The Great Tribulation is now coming to an end.

Marriage is often used to describe the relationship of Christ to the church. In this vision of John, the wedding of the Lamb has come and the bride has made herself ready for the bridegroom (v. 7).

This is a great time of jubilation for Christians because the moment has come to be with the Savior forever. We all have a part to play in getting the bride ready. First, the church will be purified from errors, divisions, and corruptions by accepting the marriage offer of the Lamb. Second, there will be a desire to be properly clothed for the wedding in fine linen, clean and white; in the robes of Christ’s righteousness. Third, there will be a willingness to receive what is given for this joyous event.

There are a lot of things to be down about in present times but there is much to look forward to. This day with God, look forward to how wonderful it will be in heaven when we all are rejoicing with the Lord.

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